At the 9th Round of the 2012 DTM Campionship, leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) retired on lap 28. He still has a 3 point lead ahead of the last race of 2012. Robert Wickens started at Valencia from grid position 14 while Gary Paffett – THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was in 16th position followed four places behind by Bruno Spengler – BMW at the DTM championships.

The event was followed on ARD TV live from 1.45 pm. With only two races remaining in the DTM calendar for the current year, it was Vice President Norbert Haug of Mercedes Benz Motorsport who stated that the coming two races in a span of 22 days will be the deciding factor on who the 2012 DTM champions would be.

The second last round in Spain, Valencia saw a track that was just resurfaced and is stated to be a challenging venue testing the limits of both racer and racing vehicle. The track has a number of slow corners where traction will play a major role while tyre wear and tear is at its peak. Gary Paffett was in an eleven point lead and hence had to keep all his wits about him specially due to the fact that Jamie Green is close by. Paffett is a strong contender being in a leading position since the first round held at Hockenheim. Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) secured 10th place in the 9th DT race of 2012. Augusto Farfus (BMW) fisnished first and was awarded 25 points.

Auto news release: Gary Paffett leads championship ahead of the DTM finale at Hockenheim – Jamie Green in third place still has a chance

Valencia• Thrilling finale in prospect at Hockenheim (19th – 21st October): Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) maintains a three-point lead ahead of the last race of the season, Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) in third place with an 18-point deficit – 25 points are awarded for a win• Grip problem makes racing tricky for our teams in Valencia

In Valencia, Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished the ninth race of this DTM season in tenth position. David Coulthard (DHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) moved up the field ten positions from grid position 21 and ended the penultimate race in P11. The race was won by Augusto Farfus (BMW).

DTM championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was forced to retire on lap 28. The British driver has led the DTM drivers’ championship since the season opener at Hockenheim. The 2005 DTM champion is three points ahead of Bruno Spengler (BMW) in second place as the season finale at Hockenheim draws near (19th-21st October 2012). Green is in third place with 109 points overall. Team THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG leads the team standings with 151 points.

A total of 24,000 spectators in total came to watch the DTM in Valencia this weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun).

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Tenth:
„After starting from 18th on the grid and then being given a drive-through penalty which cost me 20 seconds, I was never going to finish higher than tenth today. The start was rather hectic – I tried to keep clear of all the trouble and to make sure that I came through the first couple of laps in one piece. I expect us to have far better pace at Hockenheim. I’m really looking forward to the season finale that I won last year and the crowds of fans both in the Motodrom and in the Mercedes grandstand.“

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Eleventh:
„Overall, we’ve had a difficult weekend in Valencia, but I’m well satisfied with my own race. I didn’t get off to the best of starts, but the confusion on the first lap worked to my advantage and I was able to move up the field by several positions. After that, I just focused on finishing the race as best I could.“

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Twelfth:
„P12 was not what where I had intended to finish in Valencia. I had a good start, but unfortunately, my car sustained damage immediately after that and I could not post any more fast lap times. I’m hoping for a better qualifying at the season finale in Hockenheim and a positive conclusion to the season.“

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 13th:
“There’s always the danger of being involved in a collision at the start when you’re way down the grid. Luckily, I came through the initial laps without sustaining any real damage. I tried to push forwards, but it was impossible to do better than P13 from my position on the grid. We’re off to Hockenheim in three weeks’ time, and I’m really looking forward to being back in Germany and the fans there – I really want to put on a good show for them.“

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 14th:
„As expected, our pace was better than in yesterday’s qualifying. Unfortunately, it was impossible to finish higher up the field than 14th from last position on the grid. We have already shown at Hockenheim this season that our DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe is really quick there and so I feel confident about the upcoming season finale three weeks hence.“

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:
„Of course, I’m disappointed about not finishing, but we still lead the championship ahead of the finale in Hockenheim despite a very tough weekend for our team. I was next to Joey Hand at the start. He braked very early to let Bruno Spengler. We made contact, doing serious damage to my car. Now I’ll just have to quickly forget this weekend and look to the future. We proved with a one-two victory during the season opener that our DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé is very quick at Hockenheim.“

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:
„I had a good start and managed to gain a position. Unfortunately, I slid into the tire wall on the first turn and so my race was over – too bad. We intend putting on a good show for all our fans in the finale at Hockenheim, though, and aim to finish the season on a high note with some decent results.“

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:
„Unfortunately, my race was over before it had properly begun and I had intended accomplishing so much here at my home race in Valencia. There was some contact with Martin Tomczyk at the start. I tried to avoid an accident but without success. My car was badly damaged as a result and so I was forced to retire, sadly.“

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
„Our performance has been far from perfect since Friday because we could not find a setup at this circuit that would allow the tyres to be in the correct operating window to give the necessary development in grip.
Our C-Coupé was extremely competitive in all of the previous eight races and we expect that to be the case once again at the final race weekend in Hockenheim three weeks from now.

Any one out of the three – Gary Paffett, Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green – can win the title and two of them are Mercedes drivers.
Mercedes has won the last six races at Hockenheim and that fact should give us all a welcome boost.“